Post-digger attachment.



Biol-IARD WEINREIGH, 0F BURNsIDE, 'ILLINoIs- POST-BIGGER ATTACHMENT.

Specification of` Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1911.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Serial No. 640,815.

To all whom it may concern. y

Be it known that I, RICHARD VEINREICH, a citizen of the United States,residingat Burnside, in the county of Hancock and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Post-Digger Attachment, of which thefollowing'is a specification.

The present invention aims to provide a means whereby a post hole augermay be rotated in a fence corner, in the angles of buildings, andelsewhere, in which locations the auger could not Well be rotatedthrough the instrumentality 'of the common, T- shaped handle which `isusually supplied with a post hole auger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supplemental handlefor a post hole auger, the handle consisting offa stock and of a levermember, of novel and improved construction, the entire device being soconstituted that it may be fashioned at triiing expense, from commonmaterials of construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 shows the invention in sideelevation; and Fig. 2 is a fragmental vertical section.

The device herein disclosed consists of a stock 1 which is a compositestructure. The stock 1 consists of a main part 2, preferably a length ofpipe, and a supplemental part 3, likewise a length of pipe, the parts 2and 3 being united by a coupling 1, into which the parts 2 and 3 arethreaded. The upper end of the supplemental part 3 of the stock 1 issquared, as denoted by the numeral 5, and upon this squared end 5 of thesupplemental member of the stock, is removably seated, against rotation,a ratchet wheel 6.

The invention further includes a lever member, denoted generally by thenumeral 7. The lever member 7, in its turn, is a composite structure,and comprises a body portion 8, preferably a length of pipe. One end ofthe body portion 8 is threaded into one branch of the T coupling 9. Theauxiliary part 10 of the lever is threaded into the opposite branch ofthe T 9, in alinementwith the part 8. To the end of the auxiliary part8, an elbow 11 is secured kby threading or otherwise, the dependingbranch of the elbow 11 being threaded to receive a shaft 12, which, likethe parts 10 ,and 8, is preferably a length of pipe. The axis of theshaft 12 is at right angles to the axis of the parts 10 and 8, the shaft12 registering for rotation in the supplemental member 3 of the stock.

The depending branch of the T 9 carries a short arm 141, which ispreferably a pipe, threaded into the T. Through the arm 14 is passed abolt 15 or other securing element,carrying a spring pawl 16, adapted toengage with the ratchet wheel 6. The lower end of the elbow 11 restsupon the upper end of the supplemental portion 3 of the stock and thepawl 16 is maintained in operative relation with respect to the ratchetwheel 6. The pawl 16 is preferably a stiff spring member, sufcientlyyieldable to click over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 6, andsuliiciently stiff to secure a rotation of the ratchet wheel 6 and thestock 1 with which the ratchet wheel is assembled.

In practical operation, when it is desired to use a post hole auger in arestricted area, where the common, T-shaped handle cannot be employed,the handle which is supplied with the post hole auger, is unscrewed fromthe socket 18 which connects the blades 17 of the post hole auger, thelower end of the main part 2 of the stock 1 being threaded into thesocket 18, to replace the handle which is supplied with the auger.

It will be `seen that when the lever 7 is re- Aciprocated through arelatively small angle,

the pawl 16 will engage the ratchet 6, and rotate the stock 1 and theauger which is assembled with the lower end of the stock.

The elbow 11, in addition to its function as a connecting means betweenthe parts 10 and 12, serves, also through its engagement with the upperend of the supplemental part 3 of the stock, to position the pawl 16 andthe ratchet 6 opposite to each other.

The construction of the device is such that it may be easily knockeddown, the shaft 12 being readily removable from the supplemental part 3of the stock.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is z- 1. Asupplemental handle for a post hole auger, 'comprising a stock; a levermember comprising angularly disposed parts, one of which is rotatablewithin the stock; a ratchet 4wheel secured to the stock; and a pawlsecured to the lever, and adapted to coperate with the ratchet wheel.

2. A supplemental handle for a post hole auger, comprising a stockhaving a polygonal upper end; a ratchet Wheel removably seated upon thepolygonal upper end of the stock; a lever comprising angularly disposedparts, one of which is journaled for rotation in the upper end of thestock, the other of which is provided with a depending arm; and a springpawl secured to the arm,l and adapted to coperate with the ratchet.

3. A supplemental handle for a post hole auger, comprising a stock,having a polygonal upper end; a ratchet wheel removably seated upon thepolygonal upper end of the stock; a lever comprising a T; abody membersecured in one branch of the T; an auX- iliary member secured in theopposite branch of the T; an elbow secured to the auxiliary member; ashaft carried by the elbow, at right angles to the auxiliary member, theshaft being received for rotation in the upper end of the stock; an armcarried by the T, at right angles to the body and auxiliary portions ofthe lever; and a spring pawl secured to the arm, and adapted to coperatewith the ratchet wheel; the elbow being received by the upper end of thestock, to maintain the pawl and the ratchet wheel in operativeconnection with each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD WTEINREICH.

Witnesses:

WM. MANNING, F. A. STRICKLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

